CHICAGO, IL (PTTP) – On Tuesday, the Illinois state election board voted to keep former President Donald Trump’s name on the ballot for the state’s upcoming March primary. This decision comes after the insurrection at the US capital in January of 2021, which Trump was impeached for just seven days later.
While hearing officer Clark Erickson found that Trump had undeniably engaged in the January 6th insurrection, he held that the constitutional question of whether the 14th amendment was violated is a question better suited for the courts, not the state election board. The eight-member Illinois State Board of Elections ruled unanimously to uphold Erickson’s decision and dismiss any blockade to Trump’s candidacy. The decision was met with mixed emotions from Republicans and Democrats alike. Matthew Piers, a Chicago attorney for voters who objected to Trump appearing on the Illinois ballot, was “disappointed” with the result, but was expecting it. “…we always knew that this case was going to be determined in the courts, not in front of the state election board.” Conversely, Adam Merrill, the attorney of Mr. Trump, was ecstatic with the news. He maintained that the president should stay on the ballot as he “did not engage in an insurrection”. Perhaps no one was more pleased with the result than the former president himself, who took to social media to sing the board’s praise. “Thank you to the Illinois State Board of Elections for ruling 8-0 in protecting the citizens of our country from the Radical Left Lunatics who are trying to destroy it. The vote was 8-0 in favor of keeping your favorite President (ME!), on the ballot. I love Illinois. Make America Great Again!” wrote the 77-year-old on Truth Social. Despite this, Mr. Trump is still ineligible to appear on the ballot in both Colorado and Maine. Similar efforts to remove him from the ballot are happening in 17 other states, all arguing the 14th Amendment.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments beginning in early February. If they rule that Trump is ineligible for the ballot, the decision to remove him will return to the individual states.